China Struggles to Curb Tibetan Unrest

2/15/2013 2:43AM

Beijing has tightened its grip on Tibetan regions in China at a time when activists say the number of self-immolations in protest of Chinese rule has reached a grim milestone. The WSJ's Brian Spegele explains the conflict.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

I ... the ... get him to protest Chinese rule and I are increasingly willing to die of the Kai's ... and ever con joining me is Brian Spegele from Beijing are becoming more on the frequent its they become more frequent in recent months so these self relations began as early as two thousandnine we were seen at ... the beginning and the province of Sichuan and southwestern China ... they really picked up steam in two thousand eleven that in late two thousand eleven they begin to pick up steam ... and then throughout two thousand twelve and two two in late two thousand twelve ... we saw the vast majority of these happened ... on size China's government as China's Communist Party began to go through it since its transition of leadership ... you know we saw and I think according to the podiatrist Group and looking at the numbers use all of a very rapid ... uptick in numbers and frequency ... of these of the South relations ... I can't appear to be growing any day it feels like time is really trying to crack down on these ... types of protests is it not ... so yeah they did it does feel that way in the one of the important thing to note that it's it's become in Christ increasingly difficult to get ... your objective in their objective information out of the region per couple of reasons I think communications can be physically very tough to reach people out there ... foreign journalists and diplomats are often are either blocked or were very restricted from from from from traveling there ... in residence or will we found over the past two years have become increasingly reluctant to talk of foreigners um it was a reason for that reason for that is that the government increased the painting you these protests in the South relations ... is being driven by it by foreign actors by foreign interests ... um and and and and that it becomes you know who you'll be maybe they have very harshly crackdown on people who are seen as spreading rumors are spreading information about what's going on ... at the Empress and the Dalai Lama to that spiritual leader a battle that has been living in exile since nineteen ... fifty nine ... aam ... is ... is there really any attempt for middle ground here I mean the fact that China will recognize the Dalai Lama ICI's exiled ... aam what a state of relations today and and and I have they've really taken any step in in in any direction forward ... in the past year for Tibet China relations have been ... have been a real struggle to say the very least ... so we are seeing were seen some changes going on in in ... in the inside Tibet government in exile for sample the Die Lama gave up his role as the the the political leader of Tibetan and that was taken on by another man loves them Sunday was essentially starting I was the prime minister to bed ... so with all that said we seen ... over the past month as he suffer Malaysians have ... really picked up steam ... is the Chinese government with increasing aggressiveness is painting the South relations as being instigated or were being encouraged even ... five by the Tibet government in exile in by the Dalai Lama and his supporters ... on any of these are very serious accusations and that what the said Central Tibetan Administration with the Tibet government in exile is saying is ... they will be watching a common investing in our role at a loss on Sunday that the Prime Minister put out a statement yesterday ... that Lilly inviting the Chinese to come to Darts Island India when their base ... and an uncommon you offer them access to their offices to come investigate ... oh what they believe was going on basically saying ... we aren't in instigating these are the so the Malaysians come by yourself ... you know that that's unlikely that will happen if the dialogue between the sides of these new publicly announced dialogue between the sizes in ... that little to none ... aam and and so I think everybody's kind of waiting to see ... as the new leadership in China takes hold comes and comes into play you are they going to be different from from the leadership of of of the work of his party separate secretary Hu Jintao who was generally seen as a hard liner on two conditions ... that can and you mention in your story aam and a hundred people had ... um let themselves on fire of that decline since two thousand and nine for that's quite staggering figure